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I Am a Male Nurse

Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a male nurse? Here is a provocative glimpse from Jake S., one of our contributors:

Is it so unnatural for a beer guzzling, baseball fanatic, deer hunting, fast car loving, woman-chasing MAN to be in this profession?

I get asked a lot of questions about why I entered into the nursing profession. I understand all the misconceptions. Yes, I get asked about my sexual orientation, and if I didn't know any better, I would think that I am a victim of sexism. Would anyone in their right mind outwardly ask a woman why she chose to be a â€¦? (Enter any profession that comes to mind here.) So why should anyone question a man for wanting to be a nurse?

I am finally ready to let you in on my reasons:

I like the respect.

I gave the Army four years. Then, I suffered, yet survived, nursing school with barely any sleep, any friends or any money. I graduated. I passed the CA Nurse State Board. I gritted my teeth through the grind of clinicals. I did my time in the trenches as a new nurse grad. I have been an ICU nurse for the last thirteen years. I am about to take on the challenge of going back for my Masters. I am good at my job and I am proud of it.

I am not a suit-and-tie kind of guy.

Iâ€™m a lazy dresser. I am most comfortable in jeans and a pull over shirt. I hate shopping, and I hate the thought of wearing a tie every day. How uncomfortable is that? I like wearing nursing scrubs. I like not having to think about what I have to wear to work. I like the fact that it takes me five minutes to get dressed. Oh, and I wear comfortable shoes to work.

I like the hours.

Work hard, play hard, this has always been my life's motto. I don't like banker's hours or the typical 9 to 5. I like driving when there's no one on the highway, when am scheduled the night shift, and I like getting up earlier than everyone else to start my day when I do work the day shift. I personally like working thirteen hour shifts. It gives me more time to do what I want to do when I am scheduled off. Three days on, four days off. Hey, works for this guy!

I like the money.

Let me be honest, I know a lot of guys out there busting their behinds doing harder labor for less than what I get paid. I'm a hard worker and I'm a good nurse. I may even get a few people to say that I am a great nurse. I earn my paycheck working in ICU. When duty calls, I am there for my shifts. When I am needed to pick up a few more hours or another shift for a co-worker who is sick or has to take care of her kids, I am there. Do I get paid more for the overtime? Yes. Do I get paid for shift differentials? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.

I like feeling like a hero.

My grandfather died of colon cancer in 1993. He was my hero. In his final months, it wasn't his doctor who was there for him (no offense to my doctor friends), it was his nurse. It was she who was strong enough to see through the awkward and embarrassing moments, through the uncomfortable hours, through his excruciating pain. Through it all, she had a steely resolve to help him through it and to comfort him. He told me that SHE was his hero.

I consider it my chosen civic duty.

Ask any fire fighter, cop or soldier what makes them do what they do. There is one common denominator: to make a difference in someone's life. It is to protect, to save, to help or to heal. Being a nurse is no different.

Last but not least, I like my chances with the ladies:

Sue me. I am in a profession that is 90% female. If someone needs help turning/lifting a patient, allow me. In my scrubs and outside of work, I am sometimes mistaken for a doctor. Let me tell you, I use it in my favor sometimes. Brains and brawn can only get me so far. I also have my boyish smile, my caring nature, and a great profession with endless possibilities. I know I am a catch. Is it wrong to want to add my phone number here?

So, my reasons may not always be "honorable" but I challenge anyone to contest my commitment to my profession. Men have a long way to go to gain the respect of ALL our female counterparts, the rest of the healthcare profession and the public in general. But as the old saying goes, "We've come a long way, baby!" I'll just hold off on the high fives and the butt slaps.

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Comments

oh and I forgot to say that I resist calling myself a male nurse because , duh, Im bearded, deep voiced and have my repro eggs on the outside. Like its bloody obvious! So do I call a woman colleague a female nurse... silly isn't it? I am proud to be a nurse

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Thanks for your candor and for just being who you are! Most of us have a "struggle story", including myself. I love what I do in my specialty, but see new grads being given the position I wanted, and now I am supposed to educate them. I see male RN's the same as female RN's- except maybe easier to work with sometimes due to less drama (as above). You rock, brother! Keep making it work for you!

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Jake: I would rather work with male nurses on any day, for the end of time. Men who do not feel they have to dominate females, that is, are the best to work with becaue youdon't take things so personal. I can "kibitz" with a guy on an issue, an ee f we disagree, there is no brooding or avoidance or lack of eye contact for a wek. Men don't gossip in frontof you, anyway. Men are analytical, collaberative, and can laugh and have fun. Sure, some women fit this description, but more consistently, men do. I would love for nursing t become more populated with gret guys. You go ahead and hunt, and drink beer (please don't flirt too much at work), and strut....sign-up and come over to a great profession for men. We need the balance. Sally S.

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As an African American male who entered nursing in 1969, I was glad to read the article "I am a male nurse." I can tell you that it is a lot easier now than when I entered in 1969. Not only did I have to deal with racism but sexism as well. However I would be the frist to say if I had to do it all over again I would not have any reservations about becoming a nurse. I am thankful to all the female nurses who supported me and welcome me into their profession. Sincerely, 63 and still working as a nurse

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I have been a nurse for 30 years. I embrace any individual who treats nursing as a profession and dresses the part at work. I would suggest you put on your man pants every work day, show up on time, wear your uniform with pride and not worry so much about what others might think about your sexual orientation. If you are secure as a man, this should be easy. Women have their issues in the work place as well. Just be your best and the rest will fall into place.

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Oh, the many things we often don't think about. I have worked with many male nurses and the thought of them being a male that was a nurse never crossed my mind. HHmmmm! Anyway, I am glad we have male nurses. I love to see male nurses in the ER, ICU's, and OR's. Now I may get the finger pointed at me for this, but I love the strength of male nurses, not only that, but male nurses seem to have an intelligent strength. In the above named areas, male nurses seem to excel, and it is honoring to me. I love male nurses. I have tried to get any one of my three sons to become a nurse as I am, none of them have accepted. I love your story, although I am a female, most of your story could very well be my story.

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I have been a nurse for 20 years and have seen more men enter the nursing profession, especially the last 5 years. I think that men at times do get judged for their sexual orientation, which is wrong. I work with male nurses that are top notch and are proud to be associated with these professional nurses. Great article Jake, I feel you expressed the thoughts,feelings and frustration of many male nurses. We need more male nurses in our profession.

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I agree with Jake that there are perks to being an RN. I guess the perks outweigh the downside or I would not still be in this profession. I have to stay in (the profession) at least until my kids are out of college. I work for the UC system in California, and am very unhappy. At this hospital it's just as bad for men as it is for women. I'm lucky if I ever get offered a 15 minute break during my 12 hour shift. Just recently the hospital where I work, UCDMC (due to bad publicity...we voted to strike) has been making an effort to a least get us relief so our patients are looked after while they give us a 30 minute (in 12 hours)lunch.In reality,it's usually the charge nurse holding your beeper for 30. Nothing ever gets done for your patients while you're gone. No sanctioned breaks, just a 30 minute lunch. Once in a great while we get 45 minutes. In addition, they expect us to do online mandatory education modules during work time. We don't get paid for doing them. We have no time for breaks but they expect us to do continuing education online...for free, on our own time. If you don't do the modules you are written up or fired. Recently. the first module I opened up online was 42 pages of text plus a test. When do nurses have time to read 42 pages of text and complete a test while taking care of 4 patients on a telemetry floor? I would'nt recommend anyone go into nursing until hospitals start taking care of their nurses. And the patients suffer too. Nurses are well paid slaves with a flexible schedule.

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i am also a male, currently going for my nursing degree. i love it, i cannot wait to actually finish so i can get out in the field. i have been "nursing" before i even considered going to nursing school. i had an older handicapped brother and did a lot of stuff nurses dont even know how to do. i love helping people and its my passion. people always call me a "murse"-male nurse hahahah but i dont care, im going to get a fat pay check and i love doing it.

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Hear, Hear. Jake! I've been in nursing now for 35 years. I love it. I'm coming eligible for retirement but not sure I'm ready. I'm like you Jake. Spent my time earlier in my career as a Army medic. MOS 91B then 91C. I liked nursing so much I continued my schooling to be a RN. I've worked in just about every nursing setting you can think of. Right now oncology. I still love it. If I do retire like my wife wants, I'll probably still do it at least part time.

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I am a nurse and I met my boyfriend, an RN, on a travel nursing assignment 2 & 1/2 years ago. Not only is he a nurse, but a NICU RN at that! Talk about sexy....WOW!!! He is AMAZING at what he does & I am a very lucky woman! You knew what you were doing when you became a nurse!

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Love male nurses, Been an RN for fourty years and supervisor for the last twenty years. Worked with male nurses on the ambulance, Med Surg, Emerg. Rooms, Psy Hospitals and Prison Py UNits. I have found them to be hard working, knowlegable, dependable, less complaining, and less call ins Give me a "male nurse" anyday.

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Thanks for the great article! And thank you so much for not calling me a "Murse"- I cannot deal with that one. I've been a nurse for 19 years and a male for 45 years- I expect to stay both until the end. I work in community based nursing and find even fewer guys here than in any other setting I've been in. Generally, especially as I've gotten more years under my belt, the ladies treat me fine. I would like to add that I make it a special passion to recruit men into nursing. I never pass up the chance to talk to teenage guys. And I am not beyond pointing out that, if they are straight, they get to work with lots of ladies, and if they are gay, where better to find the cutest, nicest, gay guys? So far I know of seven men who got into nursing because of my direct efforts. (I wonder if it is worth noting that myself, I'm straight, and got into nursing after trying to make a better life and living that as an English major.)

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Great job on the article. I see a lot of you in me. Though I think i have you beat. I have been an RN for 21 yrs, with the last 16 of those years as a Labor and Delivery nurse. Talk about sexism! I am very good at what I do. Patients, who you would think would have the most objection, love me. It's the nurse who have the problem! Overtime though they come around. But still, working with a bunch of women is an adventure. I often tease them that its like having 8 wives at home all at once. Patients ask how do I work with all that estrogen? Again, great article, wish they had asked me to write one. I have a book!

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Yup, I'm a male nurse. Is there stereotyping... Yes... Is it usually easy to laugh at?... Sometimes... Do I feel like a hero?.. Not really... Do I feel sore and under-appreciated?... Yes... In summary, don't go into this for economic reasons... You could work 80 hours a week and still come out better than feeling sore, under-appreciated, and pigeon-holed... Do I love what I do?... Mostly depends on the day... Do I think I can score with the ladies?... Yeah right. Do this is and your *ss is grass... Remember females tend to congregate... Tried to be honest... Sorry if I offended any well-wisher types...

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Great story Jake.;very similar to my own and the reason my son follows in our footsteps. The only thing i do differently is tell people not to insult me when they mistake me for a doctor. I am proud of what I do and want them to know it.

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I've been a male RN for 19 years. I got interested in the field when I was a Navy Corpsman. I worked with a lot of great male nurses in the USN, and they inspired me to also become a RN. I'm glad to see more men come into the profession.

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Jake, if I ever get into remission from the sicknesses that took me from the bedside nursing I loved & dearly miss, I would be honored to work with you. Thanks for writing your story. I'm an old RN, married 37 years, & I hope someday you find a special person who will be your lifelong companion, just as I have. Enjoy the ride until you do. I have worked with guys of both sexual orientations, & there is one thing they have in common - a commitment to teamwork & a dislike of "tattling" behaviors that replace problem solving. I think that stuff has gotten worse with the shortage & cutbacks in staffing with the recession. We need more guys in nursing. I am sick & tired of people assuming guys who opt to nurse are somehow weird. Your article shows there's nothing weird or unhealthy about guys choosing nursing. I have gotten enough, "You're smart, why are you JUST A NURSE?" comments muself to make me want to scream; I once said, after "I love being a nurse" didn't work: "Because SOMEONE has to keep the doctors from killing off the patients! You all get too tired & next thing you know, the orders get weird & we end up arguing, with the pharmacist telling you I'm right, or you chicken-scratch something that no one can decipher & you get ticked if we call you, but you resist computerized order entry that would always be legible." It hushed them up! Carry on, Jake. I read this to my son, whom I believe would be a fantastic nurse, although since he, like me, was a caregiver from a young age & my husband & I are both disabled, he's probably sick of it! But I still think one day, he'll go for it, I think it's just in the blood.

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I'm a 27 year old male who left the music industry about 18 months ago and now work for and ENT office as a CMA. I couldn't be happier with my work and cant wait for nurse school to begin. I get phone calls from worried parents and now have the ability to help people and offer my community a true service. Working in medical is the best career move I've ever made and because of the mass amounts of women I work with I'm the envy of my single friends!

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i am also a male nursing student . i am very excited to read this artical and it gave me the umph i needed to get over the hump. if i can deal with the women . i have no filter between my brain and my mouth .

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12/20/10 I am a R.N. and my grandmother was a R.N. she has sinced passed away and when we cleaned out her house I found an L.P.N. pin? I asked my mom about it and found out my grandfather was an L.P.N. he died of a massive MI in the early 60's! I was shocked and would love to know the history of how many there were at that time? was he one of the 1st classes of male nurse's? what a legacy, that I know nothing about anybody have any ideas where I might start to find information to find out when he graduated? please email karenaustin67@yahoo.com

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Hey I'm a junior in highschool and my mom is a nurse, my older sister is in school now to be a nurse also, I have always wanted to do something in the medical field but we don't have enough money for me to go to school to be a doctor...my mom suggested nursing to me but I didn't want to do it because of all the stereotypes for male nurses but after reading this article and all of your comments I know that I do want to be a nurse, thank you everyone.

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Well put brother, I'm a male nurse too, a nurse aid a couple years before that, and I just graduated last month, I tottaly get everything u said.....the funnest part though is that when the woman gossip we can walk away and not be the "stuck up" person, lol:)

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I go to college now but I am thinking of applying to the nursing program at my university. I am still worried about doing it because of what females might think of me. I can't decide because of this! My studies right now are very boring and I've had very positive experiences in hospitals and with nurses. I am thinking of nursing because I want a job where I know I'm making a difference in someone's lives. I was so encouraged but not only the amount of males but females who commented in these posts. From a male student who is thinking of doing nursing but afraid of what females might think, I can not say how much these encouraging posts mean from female nurses!

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Thanks everyone for their great encouragements on becoming a male RN. I have a quick question for the experienced RN's, I am a male hispanic born and raised in California, Is there more advantages as far as employment? I speak Spanish and English. JW, Thanks!

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I am a nurse, male! I agree with all the other comments above. Iam very proud to be a nurse. There really is not another career i could ever see myself doing!
I can safely say that when i get home, i know ive achieved and done something right for the day. I feel absoutely privilled to be able to help and provide excellent care towards my patients wach day..its the patients for me that makes me wanna go into work each time.
Ive been qualified for a year and a half and i was 1 of 5 makes in my cohort at university!! But i can foresee that the future of nursing will become 50/50!!

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I can never say that male nurses are better than female nurses... Same team; as is all your health care professionals. The truth is, with hundreds of career paths with just an RN, I can change my job every 2-3 years with no problem. I have job ADD and could never see myself working five days a week nine to five, behind a desk or on an assembly line. I dislike doing the same thing every day and nursing tests not only my intellectual side but also my personable side. I save lives, and that life could be yours. I agree with the above, more male nurses are needed. Don't listen to stereotypes, Break the mold. Men have a lot to offer in the nursing field. Enjoy this truly rewarding job.

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True true true! I enjoyed reading your article and believe most of us, male or female, can relate to many of your reasons. My favorite, #2. I wholeheartedly empathize with the "not a shirt and tie kinda guy," what a nightmare! Reason #8 - not expected to shave! Advice: study hard and do as well as you can through the prerequisites and throughout your experience in nursing school; enjoy the learning experience and the atmosphere of the school in which you attend; apply to as many schools as possible (4 and 2 year programs) Brian M Senior Nursing Student SUNY Binghamton

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I think more male nurses can only strengthen the nursing profession. It feels detrimental to any profession to have it be only uni-sex and nursing is no exception. There are strengths and weaknesses to every person and each gender, together a more equal balance can be achieved. Thanks for your story and good luck in your masters!

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I Definitaly think that State Officials should change the name of nursing as a whole. I read a other article that stated the name should be changed to Medic, and I 100% agree to this.The name nurse has a stigma attached to it, that only females are in this profession, but lets act if the name was say MEDIC, when men hear a word like Medic, I think they would definitly want to do this. If anyone reads this, and has connections, education, or the power to bring this change please do. I am just a ordinary High School Student who really wants more men to enter this field, and in couple of years have equal amount of men and women in the field. I belive the name itself is the problem, and thats why young men my age would think that this field is for women only, and its not. This field I belive, is for anyone who is caring and loves to help people whether it be man or a women.The name should be changed to MEDIC so men and women would be pleased, and thats what nurses do, they are educatied MEDICAL professionals.

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I am so glad that you are speaking out for the male nurse. I am a retired nurse of 42 years, and I have seen a lot of changes in this feild. The best that could have happen, was for men to gravitate to this field. They have been a great assess to the nursing profession. Keep up the good work.

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Jake, I prefer to be called your colleague, rather than your counterpart. You'll be respected as a nurse by your colleagues, the health care team and the public, because you're a nurse, not because you're a man. I love your confidence and passion for your career. Is that number still available...I've been looking for work in CA!

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Nice to hear from another male Nurse who got into the profession about the same time as I did. To all the young males who want to be a Nurse, go for it! You will never work harder in your life as you will for your patients, but the rewards are there. I have never found that being a nurse gave me a leg up with the ladies. If anything, hospital policy discourages people who work together from dating. Maybe Jake can help me with that one. What is discouraging is the sexism from female nurses, yes it is there. I had one woman tell me in Nursing School that I had no business being a nurse because it took a job away from a woman. All of the managers and supervisors in my department are women. A couple of men have tried over the last 10 years and have been fed to the wolves by the ladies. Make no mistake, we are making progress, but we have a long way to go. Good luck to all young NURSES, male and female. We will be counting on you.